Who was Reading's 'tidiest' ever player?

[Cripple Creek]

It is not a phrase you hear so much these days but as someone a bit long in the tooth (46) I remember "he's a tidy little player" being banded around a fair bit in the late 70s and through much of the 80s. It tended to refer to players of the likes of, God I'm trying to think now, I guess Geoff Thomas of Crystal Palace. In other words, not very good but not that bad either and doesn't make many mistakes and tries hard and is quite good at clearing messes made by other players. I would have Richie Bowman down as our "tidiest" every player or, possibly, Mick Gooding (although Gooding was probably a bit too good to be "tidy".

[southbank1871]

Good question CC and nice to see you around these parts.

Someone like Jay Tab fits the bill I think, Jeff Hopkins as well.

[Cripple Creek]

Oh God, of course, Jay Tabb. If he didn't exist you would have to invent him to fit the "tidy" tag.

[mikey0406]

Kevin Watson?? His range of passes was good, as a player nothing spectacular but overall a tidy player and one of my favourite ever

[Green]

Would a journeyman be an appropriate synonym here?

[Muskrat]

When I read the title I immediately though "Richie Bowman", and I just can't see past the 5'4" bearded sandwich seller...

[Gordons Cumming]

Simon Osborn

Richie Bowman

Darius Wdowczyk

[Ark Royal]

Definitely Simon Osborn. I bet he even ironed and folded his Bill Grundy's.

[southbank1871]

I thought of Osborn, but then decided he was too good to fit into this category.

[From Despair To Where?]

Bryn.

[Ginger Ninjas]

Kevin Watson?? His range of passes was good, as a player nothing spectacular but overall a tidy player and one of my favourite ever

This would have been my response too

[maffff]

Khizanishvili was like that. But again, too good.

[Cripple Creek]

Personally I think Simon Osborne was far too technically gifted to fit the tidy tag, as others here have already suggested. I sometimes wonder that at a cost of 90 thousand quid he was Reading's greatest ever bargain (at least I think that's what he cost).

[Jackson Corner]

Sanchez? Not one for a hard tackle but a very neat passer.

[Blue Blood]

I will agree with the Kevin Watson shout. Stuart Beavon maybe

[Gordons Cumming]

So you can't be very good and tidy?

[maffff]

So you can't be very good and tidy?

Apparently, and that's my excuse for living in squalor.

[JIM]

Ronnie Simpson put the ball on a sixpence every time.

[MouldyRoyal]

Ronnie Simpson put the ball on a sixpence every time.

[moonwalklikebas]

Got to be Kevin Watson. All day long!